Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler (MO-4), a staunch supporter of the sanctity of human life, joined 200,000 pro-life Americans who descended on Washington, D.C. to mark 1973’s abhorrent Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that established a legal right to abortion anywhere in the United States.

“This is a time to solemnly remember the estimated 55 million babies who have been aborted since Roe v. Wade became the law of the land in 1973,” said Hartzler. “But it is also a time to be encouraged by the fact millions of Americans call themselves pro-life and are working hard to counter Roe’s culture of death.”

“I have joined other pro-life representatives of the people to pass legislation ensuring no federal tax dollars fund abortion and to make sure no employer is forced to provide health care that subsidizes abortion,” added Hartzler. “I am proud to co-sponsor a couple of additional pro-life bills being introduced today. One of them, the District of Columbia Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, would prohibit abortions of babies older than 20 weeks in Washington D.C. That is the age at which babies in the womb can feel pain. Another bill, the Ultrasound Informed Consent Act, would give a woman the right to see a sonogram of her baby prior to an abortion. As a former teacher, I believe women should be given the facts about their unborn babies before making a life or death decision like abortion.”

Congresswoman Hartzler has taken part in a number of pro-life events today: She met with and spoke to the hundreds of members of the Missouri Life Caravan who came to Washington to advocate on behalf of pro-life efforts in Congress, was one of the featured speakers at the Family Research Council’s ProLifeCon Blog event which was webcast to Americans across the country, discussed pro-life issues with Concerned Women for America members, addressed tens of thousands of pro-lifers on the National Mall, and later met with residents of Missouri’s Fourth Congressional District who had traveled to Washington to take part in the March for Life.